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THE    LOBSTER 


A  Lobster. 


EVISED   BY   THE   EDITOl 
D.  P.  KIDDER. 


NEW-YORK: 

PUBLISHED  BY  G.  LANE  <k  C.  B.  TIPPETT, 

FOR  THE  SUNDAY   SCHOOL  UNION  OF  THE  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL 

CHURCH,  200  MULBERRY-STREET. 


/.  Collord,  Printer. 
1845. 


THE    LOBSTER. 


CHAPTER  I. 

CURIOUS    STRUCTURE    OF    THE    LOBSTER ITS    EXACT 

ADAPTATION    TO    ITS    CIRCUMSTANCES MICROSCO- 
PIC   CREATURES   FORMED    ON    THE    SAME    PLAN. 

The  lobster  has  often  attracted  attention 
from  its  peculiar  appearance,  yet  rarely  has 
it  awakened  the  admiration  which  it  ought 
to  call  forth.  Look  at  the  first  with  which 
you  meet,  and  observe  what  you  can  of  its 
structure.  It  will  be  seen  at  once  that  the 
limbs,  as  well  as  the  whole  body,  are  encased 
in  tubes  of  a  solid  material,  all  far  more  care- 
fully adapted  to  their  respective  places  than  the 
most  skillfully-contrived  armor  that  was  ever 
made.  The  various  parts,  too,  are  admira- 
bly united  together ;  the  joints  being  almost 
always  those  of  a  nicely-constructed  hinge. 
And  then  the  muscles  by  which  they  are 
moved   are  lodged  within,  and  are  no  less 


4  THE   LOBSTER. 

wisely  suited  to  their  purpose,  so  that  a  lob- 
ster shows  as  clearly  that  God  made  it,  as 
any  creature  that  can  be  taken  from  the  sur- 
face of  the  earth,  or  from  the  midst  of  the 
waters. 

The  head  and  thorax  of  the  lobster,  like 
those  of  some  other  creatures,  are  blended 
into  one  portion,  covered  above  by  the  cara- 
pace, or  shield,  and  below  by  a  narrow  piece, 
to  the  sides  of  which  the  legs  are  attached. 
To  the  part  thus  constructed  succeeds  the 
portion  often  called  the  tail,  defended  above 
by  seven  broad,  arched  plates  of  armor, 
hinged  on,  and  regularly  overlapping  each 
other  in  succession.  The  last  of  these  has 
two  oar-like  portions,  on  each  side  of  which 
the  outermost  is  transversely  jointed. 

The  limbs  are  divided  into  three  sets.  On 
each  side  of  the  mouth  five  of  them  appear, 
furnished  with  tentacles,  or  arms,  and  are 
called  foot-jaws.  These  limbs  seize  the 
food,  turn  it  about,  and  apply  it  to  the  moutli. 

Next  succeed  five  pair  of  true  limbs.  Of 
these  the  first  pair  have  great  power,  and  the 
last  joint  consists  of  large  pincers,  able  to  in- 
flict severe  injury.     The  two  pairs  of  pincers 


THE    LOBSTERc 


differ  in  form  and  use.  The  left-hand  ones 
have  their  opposing  edges  finely  toothed, 
and  are  employed  in  seizing  and  cutting  the 
prey.  The  right-hand  pair  have  blunt  edges, 
and  seem  designed  for  holding,  anchor-like, 
any  fixed  objects,  thus  mooring  the  animal 
amid  the  dashing  of  the  tempest-tossed  wa- 
ters. Of  the  four  succeeding  limbs  on  each 
side,  the  first,  two  end  in  small  pincers,  the 
rest  are  simply  pointed. 

Along  the  under  surface  of  the  tail  are  cer- 
tain limbs,  called  false  feet.  Of  these  there 
are  five  pairs,  and  all,  except  the  first,  are 
divided  at  the  last  joint.  These  false  feet 
assist,  perhaps,  in  swimming  ;  and  the  female 
uses  them  to  afi&x  the  eggs,  or  spawn,  by 
means  of  a  glutinous  fluid,  to  the  under  sur- 
face of  her  body. 

The  shield,  already  mentioned,  projects  to 
defend  the  eyes:  these  are  two  in  number, 
and  are  placed  on  a  short  movable  foot-stalk. 
Below  the  eyes  are  four  antennae,  or  horns, 
of  which  the  central  pair  are  the  shortest  and 
most  slender,  and  they  also  are  divided. 

In  the  lobster  the  organs  of  hearing  are 
placed  underneath,  on  the  basal,  or  lowest 


6  THE   LOBSTER. 

joint  of  the  larger  pair  of  antennae.  They 
appear  in  the  form  of  a  small  membrane, 
surrounded  by  a  slightly-raised  margin. 
This  membrane  covers  a  little  cell  filled  with 
fluid,  and  a  small  branch  of  the  nerve  supply- 
ing the  antennae  ramifies  within  it.  It  is  by 
the  vibration  of  the  surrounding  water  that 
the  sensation  of  hearing  is  conveyed,  but  it 
cannot  be  very  definite  or  acute. 

The  mouth  of  the  lobster  is  prO'vided  with 
two  greater  jaws,  two  smaller  ones,  and  two 
feelers.  It  is  thus  enabled  to  crush  very 
hard  substances. 

The  lobster  is  formed  for  swimming. 
The  hinder  part  of  its  body  is  divided  into 
segments,  which  play  on  each  other  by  a 
remarkable  kind  of  mechanism,  the  margins 
of  each  portion  overlapping,  and  partly  in- 
closing, the  succeeding  one.  By  striking 
the  water  with  a  vigorous  flap  of  the  tail  the 
lobster  propels  itself;  and  the  paddles  which 
terminate  this  part  are  so  arranged,  that  when 
the  animal  raises  or  extends  the  tail,  they 
slide  over  each  other,  so  as  to  present  the 
least  possible  surface  to  the  water.  During 
the  stroke,  which  is  inward,  they  expand  to 


THE    LOBSTER.  7 

the  full.  So  great  is  the  power  of  this  stroke, 
that  a  lobster  will  instantly  dart  itself  back- 
ward to  a  distance  of  eighteen  or  twenty  feet. 

In  this  creature,  and  others  of  similar 
rank,  may  be  detected  an  organ,  with  very 
muscular  coats,  able  to  propel  its  contents 
into  the  vessels,  and,  therefore,  properly 
called  a  heart.  The  distinction,  which  can 
scarcely  be  made  in  inferior  creatures,  be- 
tween arteries  and  veins,  is  here  apparent. 
The  vessels  into  which  the  blood  is  sent,  to 
distribute  it,  are  certainly  arteries,  while  the 
vessels  which  bring  it  back  to  the  heart  are 
as  certainly  veins.  The  heart  of  the  lobster 
is  just  under  the  large  portion  of  shell  form- 
ing one  piece,  covering  the  upper  part  of  the 
body,-  and  called  the  shield ;  its  pulsations 
are  very  distinct,  and  performed  with  great 
regularity. 

The  stomach  of  these  creatures  is  sup- 
ported by  strong  pieces,  which  are  furnished 
with  three  hard  teeth,  moved  by  powerful 
muscles,  able  to  grind  the  food  to  a  pulp,  so 
that  it  is  reduced  a  second  time  before  diges- 
tion commences. 

Equally   well    adapted    to   their   circum- 


8  THE    LOBSTER. 

Stances  is  the  apparatus  for  breathing.  If 
the  sides  of  the  shield  already  mentioned  are 
broken  away,  where  the  margin  comes  down 
to  the  base  of  the  legs,  a  shallow  chamber 
will  be  laid  open, on  each  side,  lined  with  a 
fine  membrane,  and  inclosing  a  series  of 
tufts.  These  tufts  are  the  gills  of  the  lob- 
ster, each  one  consisting  of  a  stem,  beset 
with  fibres,  which  produce  a  feathery  appear- 
ance. Each  stem  incloses  an  artery  and  a 
vein.  The  gill-chambers  freely  admit  the 
water  by  a  wide  opening,  while  another  near 
the  mouth,  closed  by  a  plate,  permits  its 
egress.  The  movements  of  other  parts  keep 
the  water  in  constant  motion,  and  promote 
its  circulation  through  the  chambers,  so  that 
fresh  fluid  is  brought  to  the  surfaces  of  the 
gills.  Hence,  the  more  the  limbs  are  work- 
ed, the  more  freely  is  water  received,  and 
the  more  rapidly  does  the  air  act  on  the 
blood. 

It  is  well  to  attend  to  the  lobster  for  its 
own  sake ;  but  it  is  also  well  because  it 
affords  a  fair  sample  of  the  plan  on  which 
many  creatures  are  modeled.  Naturalists 
have  associated  it  indeed  with  a  great  multi- 


THE    LOBSTER.  9 

tude  of  animals.  Some  of  these  are  micro- 
scopic. Immense  numbers  of  these  are  found 
in  stagnant  waters  ;  yet  many  exist  in  rivers 
and  streams,  and  may  be  found  abundantly 
in  that  with  which  the  houses  of  London 
are  supplied.  Microscopic  plants  and  ani- 
malcules, and  the  dead  of  their  own  race, 
serve  them  as  food,  while  they,  in  turn,  are 
the  prey  of  the  hydra  and  other  aquatic 
creatures. 

The  appearance  of  some  of  these  singular 
little  creatures,  inclosed  in  a  shelly  covering, 
is  calculated  to  excite  and  reward  curiosity. 
Many,  indeed,  are  so  much  like  minute 
shells,  that  a  person  ignorant  of  their  kind 
of  inhabitants  would  never  suspect  their  true 
place  in  the  animal  kingdom.  The  legs  of 
some  are  furnished  with  branchial  fringes, 
which  appear  in  perpetual  motion.  Their 
limbs,  with  few  exceptions,  are  all  organs 
for  movement  in  the  waters.  Their  number 
varies  :  some  have  six,  others  twenty,  others 
forty-two,  and  some  even  more  than  a  hun- 
dred. 

The  figures  of  a  few  species  will  now  be 
given,  to  show  the   general  characters   of 


10 


THE   LOBSTER. 


form  which  these  creatures  display,  as  well 
as  the  changes  exhibited  by  the  young  in 
the  progress  of  their  growth.  The  following 
Cyclops  quadricornis  is  common  in  fresh 
water.  The  adult  is  about  nine-twelfths  of 
a  line  long — a  line  being  the  twelfth  part  of 
an  inch. 


Cyclops  quadricornis.  a,  body  of  four  segments  ;  b,  tail  of  six  ; 
c,  c,  antennae  ;  d,  d,  smaiiler  antennie,  four  jointed ;  e,  e,  limbs, 
of  which  the  first  pair  are  the  most  powerful. 

The  following  represent  the  young  at  dif- 
ferent periods  of  their  lives. 


1.  Young  just  after  birth  ;    2.  Young  eight  days  old;   3.  Young 

fifteen  days  old  ;    4.  Young  after  \]\o  first  molt. 


THE    LOBSTER. 


11 


The  provision  made  for  the  increase  of 
these  creatures  will  be  apparent  from  the 
adjoining  figure,  a,  a,  egg-sacs  of  the 
female. 


Egg-sacs. 

The  shell  which  covers  these  minute  ani- 
mals is  often  delicately  transparent,  permit- 
ting not  only  the  inclosed  animal,  but  even 
its  internal  structure,   to  be  perceived.     In 


Dapiinia  Tulex. 


12  THE    LOBSTER. 

general  there  is  only  a  single  eye.  The 
multitudes  of  some  species  in  stagnant  water 
is  often  so  great  as  to  tinge  it  with  their  own 
color.  Thus  the  Daphnia  pulex  has  so 
abounded  in  some  instances,  as  to  give  to 
the  water  of  a  pond  the  color  of  blood. 

The  increase  of  some  animals  of  this  kind 
is  very  remarkable.  The  female  of  Cyclops 
quadricorniSf  common  in  the  ordinary  water 
of  London,  will  lay  eight  times  every  three 
months,  and  upward  of  forty  eggs  each  time  ; 
and  as  the  young,  if  so  they  may  be  called, 
are  a*ble  to  lay  at  the  age  of  about  three 
months,  the  number  of  which  one  female 
may  be  the  parent,  in  the  course  of  a  year, 
is  enormous. 

These  animals  resist  cold  in  a  very  extra- 
ordinary manner.  They  have  been  pur- 
posely frozen  in  water  congealed  to  ice,  and 
on  its  being  melted  most  of  them  appeared 
as  active  and  vigorous  as  before.  They  also 
endured  to  be  dried,  though  not  for  many 
minutes.  On  one  occasion  it  was  found  that 
out  of  twelve  individuals,  dried  for  fifteen 
minutes,  five  only  recovered  on  being  re- 
stored to  the  water,  and  that  twelve,  kept  dry 


THE    LOBSTER.  13 

for  twenty-five  minutes,  perjshed.  Yet,  as 
in  seasons  of  drought  the  pools  and  ditches 
which  they  inhabit  are  so  commonly  dried 
up,  it  is  certain  they  will  retain  life  when 
buried  in  mud,  so  long  as  any  moisture  re- 
mains. They  become  active  when  the  rain 
falls,  but  are  destroyed  when  the  mud  hard- 
ens. Still,  it  is  said,  the  eggs  do  not  perish 
with  the  parent,  but  will  be  hatched  four  or 
five  days  after  being  placed  in  water. 

Another  creature,  the  Cypris  puber'a,  is 
found  in  pure  stagnant  water,  and  is  very 
active  in  its  movements.  Its  singular  tail 
is  freely  movable,  the  creature  coming  forth 
from  the  shell  at  pleasure. 


Cjrpris  Pubera,  shell  removed.     Cypris  Pubera,  in  its  shell. 

The  animals  of  another  group  adhere  to 
the  bodies  of  various  tenants  of  the  waters, 
on  whose  juices  they  feed.  Hence  the  mouth 
is  adapted  not  to  mastication,  but   suction. 


14 


THE    LOBSTER. 


The  eyes  are  two  in  number.  The  body  is 
covered  with  a  shell,  sometimes  consisting 
of  a  single  shield,  in  others  divided  into  sec- 
tions. Tv^ro  of  the  antennae,  or  horn-hke 
parts,  are  formed  into  pincers,  and  as  such 
are  used  in  taking  a  firm  hold. 


THE    LOBSTER.  16 


CHAPTER  11. 

THE    CRAB VARIOUS     REMARKABLE     CREATURES     OF 

THIS      KIND ADMIRABLE     PROVISION      OF      DIVINE 

WISDOM. 

In  continuing  our  observations  of  those 
creatures  to  which  the  lobster  is  alhed,  the 
comnaon  crab  now  demands  our  particular 
attention.  Its  skeleton  is  external.  Each 
side  of  the  animal  is  provided,  with  four  legs 
and  a  hand,  the  latter  pincer-like,  being 
divided  at  the  end  into  two  parts.  One  of 
these  hands  is  movable,  the  other  not.  The 
crab  has  no  tongue,  but  it  has  organs  of  taste. 
The  mouth  is  provided  with  eight  pairs  of 
jaws.  A  part  of  the  stomach  is  furnished  with 
grinding  teeth,  and  here  mastication  is  com- 
pleted.    The  antennae  are  organs  of  touch. 

The  crab  is  enabled  to  move  in  any  direc- 
tion, with  equal  facility.  The  solid  sheath, 
which  includes  the  whole  of  the  viscera  and 
other  soft  parts  of  these  animals,  is  fully 
adapted  to  this  purpose.  Joints,  therefore, 
are  provided,  either  between  the  different 
rings  of  the  body  or  the  various  elements  of 


16  THE   LOBSTER. 

the  limbs,  allowing  of  motion  to  a  greater  or 
less  extent  between  these  different  pieces. 
That  this  may  be  done,  the  movable  piece 
rests  on  that  which  precedes  it  by  two  hinge- 
like joints,  and  the  whole  shows  a  most 
simple  but  effective  arrangement. 

Many  crabs,  from  their  general  structure, 
and  the  shortness  of  their  tails,  are  far  better 
adapted  for  walking  on  the  shore,  or  at  the 
bottom  of  the  sea,  than  for  svs^imming.  Most 
persons,  who  have  visited  the  sea-shore  at 
low  tide,  have  observed  shoals  of  crabs  run- 
ning quickly  about,  in  their  side-way  manner, 
and  endeavoring,  when  approached,  to  bury 
themselves  in  the  sand.  It  is,  indeed,  far 
more  common  for  the  crab  thus  to  approach 
the  shore  than  the  lobster,  for  the  former  is 
more  terrestrial  than  the  latter.  Yet  both, 
provided  the  gills  are  kept  bathed  with  their 
proper  fluid,  will  live,  for  a  long  time,  out 
of  their  native  element.  Many  crabs  lead 
almost  their  whole  lives  out  of  water. 

Certain  fresh-water  species  are  thus  semi- 
terrestrial.  One,  common  in  Italy,  Greece, 
and  Egypt,  and  well  known  to  the  ancients, 
is  capable  of  living,  for  a  considerable  period, 


THE    LOBSTER,  17 

on  dry  land.  The  Greek  priests  eat  it  raw, 
and  it  forms  one  of  the  dishes  of  the  Itahans 
during  Lent.  It  is  figured  on  many  of  the 
ancient  Sicilian  and  Grecian  medals. 

The  species  of  a  genus  which  has  one  of 
the  pincer-claws  longer  than  the  other,  it 
being  sometimes  the  right,  and  at  others  the 
left,  dig  with  the  larger  claw  burrows  on  the 
borders  of  the  shore  ;  and  in  these  they  take 
up  their  abode.  These  burrows,  which  they 
close  when  tenanting  them,  are  circular,  and 
carried  down  obliquely  to  a  great  depth.  Fre- 
quently are  they  so  numerous  as  to  remind 
the  spectator  of  a  rabbit  warren.  Each  one 
has  only  a  single  occupant.  One  species  in 
South  Carolina  passes  three  months  of  the 
winter  in  this  retreat,  and  only  visits  the  sea 
when  about  to  spawn. 

The  land-crabs  of  another  genus,  of  which 
one  species  lives  in  Northern  Africa,  and 
another  in  India,  also  tenant  burrows,  which 
they  dig  in  the  sand,  near  the  sea.  They 
only  quit  them  at  sunset  to  return  home  in 
the  morning.  With  such  velocity  do  they 
run  on  land  that,  it  is  said,  a  man  on  horse- 
back can  scarcely  keep  up  with  them. 
2 


18 


THE   LOBSTER. 


Of  these  creatures,  however,  the  most  cele- 
brated is  the  violet  crab,  a  native  of  the  West 
Indies  and  South  America.  In  May  and 
June,  when  the  rainy  season  takes  place, 
these  creatures  descend  the  mountains,  which 
are  their  usual  abode,  and  that  in  such  num- 
bers that  the  roads  and  woods  are  covered 
with  them.  So  skillfully  do  they  steer  their 
course,  that  they  travel  by  the  easiest  de- 
scent, and  arrive  most  readily  at  the  sea,  the 


Violet  (3rab8  on  tlieir  inland  route. 


THE   LOBSTER.  19 

object  at  which  they  aim.  They  are  said  to 
resemble  a  vast  army  marching  in  battle 
array,  following  always  a  straight  line,  and 
not  breaking  their  ranks.  They  surmount 
every  obstacle  that  is  in  their  way,  and  even 
scale  the  houses  that  he  in  their  path.  They 
sometimes  enter  the  houses,  making  a  noise 
like  that  of  rats  ;  and  when  they  invade  gar- 
dens they  destroy  with  their  claws  the  whole 
produce. 

In  Jamaica  it  is  said  to  be  impossible  to 
keep  them  out  of  the  houses,  or  even  out  of 
the  bedrooms,  where,  at  one  tim«  scratching 
with  their  large  claws,  and  at  another  ratthng 
across  the  floor,  they  make  a  noise  that  would 
not  a  little  astonish  and  alarm  a  stranger. 

Escaping  various  dangers  during  a  march 
which  sometimes  occupies  three  months, 
the}^  arrive  at  last  at  the  sea-shore,  and  pre- 
pare to  cast  their  spawn.  As  yet  the  eggs 
are  within  the  bodies  of  the  crabs  ;  and  as 
soon  as  they  have  reached  the  spot  they  have 
sought,  they  go  eagerly  to  the  edge  of  the 
water,*  and  let  the  waves  wash  over  them 
two  or  three  times.  They  now  seek  a  lodging 
on  land.     Here  the  spawn  rapidly  increases  ; 


20  THE    LOBSTER. 

it  is  excluded  from  the  body,  and  adheres 
to  it  under  the  flaps  of  the  tail.  The  crabs 
in  this  state  once  more  seek  the  shore,  shake 
off  the  spawn  into  the  water,  and,  leaving  it 
to  be  hatched,  retreat  to  the  mountains. 
Many,  from  exhaustion,  fail  in  their  attempt. 
Much  of  the  spaw^i  is  said  to  be  devoured 
by  fish ;  but  at  length  multitudes  of  little 
crabs  may  be  seen  leaving  the  shore,  and 
slowly  traveling  up  the  neighboring  heights. 
One  writer  says  : — ''  On  descending  Qua- 
hill,  from  the  vale  of  Plaintain-Garden  River, 
the  road  appeared  of  a  reddish  color,  as  if 
strewed  with  brick-dust.  I  dismounted  from 
my  horse  to  examine  the  cause  of  so  unusual 
an  appearance,  and  w^as  not  a  little  astonished 
to  find  that  it  w^as  owing  to  the  myriads  of 
young  black  crabs,  about  the  size  of  a  man's 
finger,  crossing  the  road,  and  moving,  at  a 
brisk  pace,  direct  for  the  mountains.  I  was 
concerned  to  think  of  the  destruction  I  was 
causing  in  traveling  through  such  a  body  of 
useful  creatures,  as  I  fancied  that  every  time 
my  horse  put  dowm  a  foot  it  was  the  bss  of 
at  least  ten  lives.  I  rode  along  the  coast  a 
distance  of  about  fifteen  miles,  and  found  it 


THE   LOBSTER.  21 

nearly  the  same  the  whole  way,  only  that  in 
some  places  they  were  more  numerous,  in 
others  less  so.  Returning  the  following  day, 
I  found  the  road  still  covered  with  them,  the 
same  as  the  day  before.  It  is  worthy  of  re- 
mark, that  this  prodigious  multitude  of  young 
ones  were  moving  from  a  rock-bound  shore, 
formed  by  inaccessible  cliffs,  the  abode  of 
sea-birds,  and  against  which  the  waves  of  the 
sea  were  constantly  dashed  by  the  trade-wind 
blowing  directly  upon  them.  That  the  old 
crabs  should  be  able  to  deposit  their  eggs  in 
such  a  part  of  the  coast  (if  that,  as  would 
appear,  is  the  habit  of  the  animal)  is  not  a 
little  extraordinary." 

The  long  journeys  of  the  parent  crabs  re- 
quire, of  course,  a  special  provision  in  the 
structure  of  these  creatures.  It  is  necessary 
that  the  gills  should  be  kept  constantly  moist ; 
but  that  God  who  gave  a  stomach  to  the 
camel  so  curiously  formed  that  it  can  carry 
a  large  quantity  of  water  during  its  journeys 
in  the  desert,  was  at  no  loss  to  provide  for 
the  violet  crab.  Recent  observation  has 
shown,  what  would  have  been  observed  be- 
fore  had  due  attention  been  given  to  this 


22  THE    LOBSTER. 

creature,  that  there  is  a  kind  of  reservoir 
capable  of  containing  a  certain  quantity  of 
water,  placed  immediately  above  the  gills, 
where  the  front  part  of  the  shield  appears 
more  swollen  than  in  the  species  of  crabs 
which  are  truly  aquatic.  How  delightful  is 
it  to  observe  this,  among  innumerable  pro- 
visions of  the  all-wise  God,  for  the  welfare 
of  inferior  creatures  ! 

The  hermit  crab  is  a  remarkable  creature. 
Instead  of  the  whole  hinder  part  of  the  body 
being  protected  by  a  hard  and  shelly  armor, 
it  is  covered  with  a  sort  of  leathery  mem- 
brane. Thus  comparatively  defenseless,  it 
is  obliged  to  resort  to  artificial  means  of 
protection.  Apart  from  this  effort  of  a  mar- 
velous instinct,  how  could  it  escape  being 
bruised  and  broken  among  the  rough  stones 
of  a  rocky  beach,  when  a  rolling  tide  lashed 
the  shore  ?  How,  too,  could  it  escape  the 
assaults  of  its  enemies  ? 

The  means  employed  in  this  instance  are 
very  curious.  The  hermit  crab  selects  an 
empty  turban-like  shell,  and  inserting  its  tail, 
retreats  backward,  that  in  the  winding  re- 
cesses of  its  chosen  dwelling  it  may  find 


THE   LOBSTER. 


23 


Hermit  Cx^b.—Pagurus  miles. 

The  tipper  figure  shows  the  unprotected  tail ;   the  lowef  one, 

the  "  hermit,"  with  his  tail  coiled  up  in  a  turbinated  shell. 

safety.  When  grown  loo  large  for  the  house 
it  has,  it  searches  for  another,  and  takes  up 
its  abode  in  one  more  spacious. 

If  we  take  the  common  hermit  crab  of  our 
coasts,  we  shall  find  that  only  the  right  of  its 
pincer-claws  is  largely  developed,  and  with 
this  it  both  shuts  and  guards  the  opening  of 


24 


THE    LOBSTER. 


its  shell.  The  locomotive  legs  are  feeble, 
and  of  these  only  two  in  each  side  are  fairly- 
developed.  The  paddle  at  the  end  of  the 
tail  in  other  creatures,  now  no  longer  needed 
as  such,  is  changed  into  a  sort  of  anchor,  by 
which  the  animal  retains  a  firm  hold  of  the 
bottom  of  its  dw^elling.  Carrying  this  with 
it,  it  prowls  about  in  quest  of  prey.  Where 
a  dead  carcass  aifords  a  repast,  numbers  of 
these  crccitures  may  sometimes  be  seen 
gathered  together. 

Another  very  remarkable  creature  forms  a 
part  of  the  genus  called  Brigus,  and  among 
these  the  tail,  though  small,  is  solid.     None 


Brigtis  Latro,  on  a  Cocoa-nut  Palm  Branch. 


THE    LOBSTER.  26 

of  these  animals  tenant  shells.  One  remark- 
able species,  of  large  size,  climbs  trees,  and 
feeds  on  the  fruit  of  a  species  of  palm.  Its 
food  is  a  small  kind  of  cocoa-nut;  it  lives  not 
in  holes  in  the  rocks,  but  at  the  roots  of  trees. 
It  is  a  favorite  food  of  the  natives  of  some  of 
the  South  Sea  islands. 

Mr.  T.  D.  Bennett  observed  a  curious 
crab,  that  frequents  the  shallow^est  w^aters  of 
the  shore-reef,  at  Raiatea.  The  most  inte- 
resting feature  in  its  economy  is  an  attempt 
it  makes  at  disguise,  by  covering  itself  with 
decayed  vegetable  substances,  mud,  and  co- 
ral-sand, the  better  to  ensnare  its  prey.  The 
example  he  obtained  measured  six  inches  in 
the  circumference  of  the  shell,  and  was  of  a 
dull  brown  color ;  the  entire  surface  of  the 
body  and  legs  is  covered  with  rigid  and  in- 
curved bristles,  calculated  to  retain  the  ex- 
traneous substances  used  for  disguise,  while 
short  and  well-concealed  forcep-claws,  and 
foot-stalks  curving  upward,  to  raise  the  eyes 
above  the  pile  of  materials  on  the  back,  are 
also  in  exact  accordance  with  the  secretive 
habits  of  this  animal.  Although  active  when 
captured,  its  movements  in  the  water  were 


26  THE    LOBSTER. 

sluggish,  and  the  attention  of  Mr.  Bennett 
was  drawn  to  the  creature  only  by  the  strange 
phenomenon  of  what  appeared  to  be  a  lump 
of  rubbish  moving  slowly  from  one  spot  to 
another.  The  disguise  employed  by  this 
crab  is  not,  however,  without  its  parallel 
among  other  creatures. 

Another  crab  he  observed  retracts  its  legs 
beneath  the  shelter  of  its  broad  carapace, 
places  its  broad  and  flat  forcep-claws  across 
the  head  as  a  further  protection,  and  remains 
perfectly  motionless,  however  much  annoyed. 
One  of  the  crew  of  the  vessel  in  which  he 
sailed,  who  found  a  specimen  of  this  crab  on 
the  beach,  put  it  into  his  pocket  as  a  *'  curi- 
ous stone,"  and  was  not  a  little  surprised, 
after  a  lapse  of  time,  to  find  the  apparently 
inanimate  body  making  its  escape. 


THE    LOBSTER.  27 


CHAPTER  III. 

INTERESTING  QUESTIONS — A  REPLY GROWTH  OF  THE 

CRAYFISH FREEDOM    OF    THE    LOBSTER    EROM   ITS 

SHELL CHANGE  OF  THE  CRAB RENEWAL  OF  LIMBS 

THE  WORKS  OF  GOD. 

Returning,  after  this  glance  at  kindred 
creatures,  to  the  lobster,  an  interesting  ques- 
tion arises  :  How  is  this  animal,  which  re- 
sides within  so  solid  a  shell,  to  find  room  for 
its  increase  in  size  ?  *'  It  has,"  as  Paley  re- 
marks, "  in  its  constitution  a  difficulty  so 
great,  that  one  could  hardly  conjecture  be- 
forehand how  it  could  be  disposed  of."  In 
most  animals  the  skin  grows  with  their 
growth.  If  instead  of  a  soft  skin  there  be  a 
shell,  still  it  admits  of  a  gradual  enlargement. 
If  the  shell,  as  in  the  tortoise,  consists  of 
several  pieces,  the  accession  of  substance  is 
made  at  the  joinings.  But  the  lobster's  shell, 
being  applied  to  the  limbs  of  the  body,  as 
well  as  to  the  body  itself,  allows  not  of  the 
usual  mode  of  growth,  which  is  observed  to 
take  place  in  other  shells.  Its  hardness  re- 
sists expansion,  and  its  complexity  prevents 


28  THE    LOBSTER. 

its  increasing  in  size  by  additions  to  its  edges. 
How,  then,  was  the  growth  of  the  lobster  to 
be  provided  for  ?  Was  room  to  be  made  for 
it  in  the  old  shell,  or  was  it  to  be  successively 
fitted  with  new  ones  ?  If  a  change  of  shell 
became  necessary,  how  was  the  lobster  to 
free  itself  from  its  old  one  ? 

Observation  has  cleared  up  the  difficulty. 
It  has  shown  that  the  lobster,  and  similar 
creatures,  not  only  change  their  hard  cover- 
ings, but  that  even  the  covering  of  the  eyes, 
the  lining  membrane  of  the  stomach,  the 
teeth,  and  also  the  expansions  to  which  the 
muscles  of  the  claws  are  attached,  are  all 
periodically  thrown  off.  It  is  only  when  re- 
leased from  their  armor  that  these  animals 
increase.  The  soft  body,  liberated  from  its 
close  confinement,  suddenly  pushes  forth  its 
growth.  The  vital  energies  are  now  sum- 
moned to  the  task  of  enlarging  the  frame, 
and  this  being  completed,  new  coverings  are 
acquired,  to  be  thrown  off  on  the  arrival  of 
the  usual  period. 

Reaumur,  who  watched  the  process  in  the 
case  of  the  river  crayfish,  describes  it  as  at- 
tended by  many  efforts  and  much  struggling. 


THE    LOBSTER. 


29 


A  few  days  before  it  commences,  which  is 
early  in  autumn,  the  creature  abstains  from 
all  solid  food.  The  shield  and  lower  seg- 
ments of  the  body  now  offer  less  resistance 
than  usual  to  the  pressure  of  the  finger. 
Shortly  afterward,  the  crayfish  appears  rest- 


Cmyfi^ih.—  Astacus  fiuriatUts. 


30  THE    LOBSTER. 

less,  and  rubs  its  legs  against  each  other. 
It  now  throws  itself  on  its  back,  agitates  the 
whole  body,  and  then  distends  it,  by  which  the 
membrane  joining  the  shield  to  the  abdomen 
is  burst,  and  that  large  plate  is  raised.  Some 
degree  of  rest  follows  these  first  struggles. 

After  a  short  time  the  animal  again  puts 
all  its  organs  in  motion,  the  shield  is  seen  to 
rise  gradually  from  the  legs  beneath,  and  in 
less  than  half  an  hour  the  animal  has  freed 
itself  from  this  portion  of  its  armor.  By 
drawing  back  its  head,  the  horns,  eyes,  and 
legs  are  withdrawn  as  from  a  case  ;  and  the 
extrication  of  the  last  being  the  most  difficult, 
it  is  attended  with  so  much  pain,  that  the 
effort  sometimes  occasions  the  loss  of  one  or 
more  of  these  limbs.  The  hinder  parts  are 
withdrawn  more  easily.  The  head  is  drawn 
below  the  shield,  and  the  covering  of  the  tail 
is  thrown  off  by  a  forward  motion.  The 
creature  may  now  be  seen  freed  from  all  its 
incumbrances,  and  the  case  is  left  unbroken, 
as  if  no  struggle  had  taken  place  within  it. 
In  a  specimen  found  by  Professor  Jones,  the 
segments  of  ihe  pincer-claws,  but  not  of  the 
ordinary  legs,  were  split  near  the  joints,  and 


THE    LOBSTER.  31 

the  uniting  ligaments  ruptured  ;  the  lining 
of  the  stomach,,  and  the  teeth,  were  found 
in  the  thorax. 

The  change  that  takes  place  in  the  lobster 
differs  from  the  one  now  described.  This 
creature  is  vigorous  and  ravenous  to  the  last. 
Instances  have  been  known  in  which  lobsters 
about  to  cast  their  covering,  and  enticed  by 
the  bait  set  for  them,  have  entered  the  traps, 
and  on  the  fisherman  beginning  to  handle  his 
prize,  the  animal  has  slipped  away,  leaving 
him  only  the  empty  shell.  A  circumstance 
of  this  kind  enabled  a  naturalist  to  give  a 
minute  description  of  a  very  perfect  case, 
left  by  a  lobster  in  making  its  escape,  which 
it  did  to  the  great  annoyance  of  the  fisher- 
man, who  had  calculated  on  a  prize  some- 
what beyond  the  ordinary  dimensions.  The 
observer  in  this  instance  could  not  detect 
any  extraordinary  movements  or  contortions 
when  the  lobster  was  engaged  in  freeing  it- 
self from  its  trammels,  or  observe  that  the 
time  was  prolonged,  as  in  the  case  of  the 
crayfish.  It  is  certain,  that,  when  delivered, 
the  creature  possesses  great  activity  in  effect- 
ing its  escape. 


32  THE    LOBSTER. 

In  this  case  the  sheaths  of  the  horns  and 
feelers  were  perfect  to  their  minutest  extre- 
mities. The  stalk  and  transparent  covering 
of  the  eyes  were  also  uninjured.  The  seg- 
ments of  the  hinder  part  of  the  body,  with 
the  plates  at  the  end,  were  all  joined  toge- 
ther, but  without  any  membrane  between. 
The  parts  beneath  the  snout,  including  the 
jaws,  pincers,  and  legs,  together  with  other 
portions,  and  the  internal  coat  of  the  stomach, 
formed  one  piece,  with  no  further  separation 
than  would  arise  from  the  absence  of  every 
portion  of  the  membrane. 

The  manner  in  which  the  animal  escaped 
was  not  to  be  mistaken.  Through  the  middle 
of  the  shield  ran  a  line,  as  straight  as  if  it 
had  been  cut  with  a  knife.  This  was  made 
evidently  by  a  natural  process  of  separation, 
for  it  even  proceeded  through  the  centre  of 
the  snout  to  the  extremity  of  the  creature,  so 
that  the  least  effort  of  the  animal  was  suffi- 
cient to  afford  it  a  passage. 

In  the  common  crab,  according  to  the  same 
observer,  this  change  takes  place  by  a  sepa- 
ration of  the  defense  of  the  back  from  the 
lower  portion  of  the  shield,  the  animal  lying 


THE   LOBSTER.  33 

on  its  back  during  the  process.  Prior  to 
this — and  it  may  be  so  in  the  lobster  and 
similar  creatures — the  fleshy  contents  of  the 
limb-cases  shrink  very  considerably.  Other- 
wise the  flesh,  and  that  of  the  pincers  in 
particular,  could  not  be  freed,  for  it  does  not 
appear  that  either  in  the  crab  or  the  lobster 
the  shells  of  these  parts  are  fissured. 

The  newly-extricated  crab,  not  unlike  a 
lump  of  dough  inclosed  in  membrane,  has, 
at  first,  barely  strength  enough  to  crawl  to  a 
place  of  safety.  This  is  some  fissure  or 
hole,  and  there  it  absorbs  as  much  fluid  as 
will  distend  its  organs  and  their  common 
covering,  now  flexible  as  velvet,  to  the  full 
extent  of  their  capacity.  By  this  means  the 
calcareous  crust  is  deposited,  according  to 
the  newly-acquired  bulk  of  the  animal,  which 
is  proportionately  the  most  increased  in  the 
youngest  individuals. 

In  the  earher  stages  of  life,  the  sudden 
pushing  forward  of  growth  occurs  several 
times  in  the  course  of  the  year,  but  at  more 
and  more  distant  intervals  as  the  animal  ad- 
vances toward  maturity.  When  this  period 
has  arrived,  the  shell,  most  probably,  is  never 
3 


34  THE   LOBSTER. 

renewed.  In  proof  of  this  opinion  it  may 
be  stated,  that  a  large  hving  Norway  lobster 
was  minutely  examined  by  an  eminent  na- 
turalist, and  that  the  carapace  of  this  creature 
formed  a  bed  on  which  appeared  a  cluster  of 
full-grown  muscles,  all  firmly  attached,  in 
close  array.  Another  observer  has  found 
oysters  two  inches  and  a  half  in  length  at- 
tached to  the  carapace  of  living  crabs. 

There  is  another  curious  fact  in  the  history 
of  these  creatures,  which  must  not  be  omitted : 
it  is  the  power  of  reproducing  their  limbs 
when  lost  by  accident.  The  loss  of  a  leg 
or  two,  strange  to  say,  appears  of  little  im- 
portance. When  suddenly  alarmed,  indeed, 
a  lobster  will  often  throw  off  its  claws  with 
a  jerk.  Usually,  when  a  limb  is  injured,  the 
animal  breaks  it  off  at  the  joint  secured  to 
its  junction  with  the  trunk,  where  the  growth 
more  speedily  commences. 

No  pain  seems  to  attend  this  singular  opera- 
tion. The  wound  becomes  covered  with  a 
delicate  pellicle,  it  begins  to  sprout,  and  in 
due  time  a  new  claw  is  produced.  It  re- 
mains, however,  unprotected  with  a  hard 
shell  till  the  next  general  molt,  and  seldom 


THE   LOBSTER.  35 

or  never  acquires  the  consistency  of  the  cor- 
responding claw,  although  equally  perfect  in 
form.  An  analogy  occurs  in  many  lizards, 
and  especially  the  geckos,  which  reproduce 
the  tail  when  accidentally  broken  off. 

Surely,  then,  an  acquaintance  with  these 
facts  will  stimulate  the  reader  to  seek  further 
information  in  reference  to  the  works  of  the 
great  Creator.  In  doing  so  employment  will 
be  found  of  a  truly  delightful  and  improving 
character.  The  further  we  proceed  in  such 
pursuits,  the  more  numerous  will  be  the  dis- 
plays of  the  divine  wisdom  and  goodness, 
while  often  we  must  pause  and  say  : — 

So  He  ordained,  whose  way  is  in  the  sea, 
His  path  amidst  great  waters,  and  his  steps 
Unknown ;  whose  judgments  are  a  mighty  deep, 
Where  plummet  of  ai'changel's  intellect 
Could  never  yet  find  soundings,  but  from  age 
To  age  let  down,  drawn  up,  then  thrown  again, 
With  lengthened  line  and  added  weight,  still  fails ; 
And  still  the  cry  in  heaven  is,  "  0  the  depth !" 

In  the  operations  of  God,  it  is  not  enough 
to  behold  him  as  the  Creator  and  the  Pre- 
server ;  the  Redeemer  should  be  also  de- 
voutly contemplated.  *'  What  shall  it  profit 
a  man,  if  he  shall  gain  the  whole  world,  and 


36  THE   LOBSTER. 

lose  his  own  soul  ?  or  what  shall  a  man  give 
in  exchange  for  his  soul  ?"  Mark  viii,  36,  37. 
And  the  soul  will  perish,  if  there  be  not  a 
simple  and  total  reliance  on  the  only  Me- 
diator, "  who  of  God  is  made  wisdom,  and 
righteousness,  and  sanctification,  and  re- 
demption," to  all  who  beheve  the  gospel. 
1  Cor.  i,  30. 

The  soul!  exchange  for  aught  the  soul! 

Born  to  survive  yon  glorious  sun ! 
When  age  on  age  hath  ceased  to  roll, 

Its  endless  being  but  begun  ! 

Yet  man,  with  an  immortal  mind, 

Pursues  througli  life  his  shadows  vain ; 

And,  with  mysterious  folly,  blind, 
Bax'ters  his  soul,  and  calls  it  gain ! 

Lord,  teach  us  vv-here  our  safety  lies ! 

Let  us  the  fii-st  of  lessons  leani : 
All  pilgrims  here,  may  we  be  wise. 

And  make  our  souls  our  great  concern. 


THE  END. 


;  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 


B     000  008  876     5 


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